The government has launched the Trader Support Service this week which aims to help Northern Ireland firms deal with the red tape created by the new Irish Sea border, which comes into force when the UK leaves the EU on 1 January next year.
The new border will require customs declarations for goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain and the free-to-use Trader Support Service (TSS) will help firms deal with these documents.
Under the scheme, traders will register with the service and receive advice on the information they need to collect about the goods they will be importing.
TSS will then use this information to complete import declarations on behalf of importing companies.
The service aims to help firms avoid the bureaucracy thrown up by the Brexit withdrawal agreement on Northern Ireland.
However other issues have yet to be resolved such as the need for agri-food products being imported from Britain to go through an expensive certification process.
The RHA welcomed the launch of the service but called for greater clarity on how trade between the borders will operate.
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Seamus Leheny, Logistics UK’s policy manager for Northern Ireland, said: “UK businesses face significant challenges at the end of the transition period, not least the matter of customs and other formalities, which many will be encountering for the first time.
“We are delighted to see the launch of the Trader Support Service today, which should help NI businesses – who face particular challenges – transition to the new trading arrangements, protect continuity of trade and help to ensure EU Exit is a success for the NI economy.
“The service will also provide support to GB businesses who trade with, or move goods to and from NI.
“As a next step Logistics UK are now calling on the UK government to publish a clear border operating model for trade between NI and GB, so that the logistics industry can plan for January.”
A government spokesman said: "The Trader Support Service will provide unprecedented support to all businesses engaging in new processes under the NI Protocol and its announcement has been warmly received by them.
Earler this month the government announced that a consortium led by the IT company Fujitsu hasd won the £355m contract to run the service. The other consortium members are McKinsey, the Institute of Export & International Trade, the Customs Clearance Consortium & HGS.
A government spokesperson said: "The Trader Support Service will provide unprecedented support to all businesses engaging in new processes under the NI Protocol and its announcement has been warmly received by them."
